Leaderboard

Something tells me the R1 is not the last 1 series EOS R camera to come... https://www.eoshd.com/news/hint-wait-for-the-canon-eos-r1x/ After all, back in the day they did split the 1D and 1DS didn't they?

https://www.metabones.com/article/of/Metabones_Introduces_New_EF-MFT_Smart_Adapters_PDAF_Support Is anyone able to verify if this is working? I've just tried the ver 4.1 update with the Metabones 'S' version on various lenses and the PDAF indicates it is tracking but doesn't focus. So far I've tried with Sigma 30 f1.4 Art, Canon 50 1.4, Canon 17-55 f2.8 but they all still require me to switch to Single AF. G9ii has also been updated to Ver 2.1 This chap show's its working on the Sigma 18-35mm f1.8

And now Meike has released an 85mm lens for L Mount: https://meikeglobal.com/products/meike-85mm-f1-4-auto-focus-lens?variant=45431946903780 Rather "expensive" at $499!! Hopefully with time it will see a big price drop, and/or a cheaper f1.8 version

As long as one puts some time into grading, this is not only super fun but also a little pocket cinema camera, taking beautiful images.

Well that went tits up... First the fact that 26mp medium raw is not compatible with any current batch editing software which meant shooting everything at 61mp which was not the plan. Then the thing keeps locking up. Or rather not switching on at random times forcing battery out, battery in, which is hardly ideal at key moments. It has happened now 2-3 times on each of the 3 shoots I have used it on. Not good enough. Plus it just is not as good in low light as the Nikon Zf/Z6II or any of my 24mp Lumix cameras. It just isn't. So I'm returning it and selling everything Nikon and Tamron. For what? My trusty fave camera of all time, my S1H which has a ridiculous trade in value of around €700. OK, I need to buy a couple of lenses and I have to compromise on my stills camera set up going back to between 2.5/3kg in my hand, but it also puts €6k+ back into my account. Lesson learned. L Mount is just the best system for me so I need to stop dicking about with any and everything else. Samyang 35-150mm f2/2.8 arriving next week in time for my next shoot and Sigma 28-45mm f1.8 on preorder for my indoor and low light lens. Oh well, I tried. S9 arrives tomorrow and was going to replace one of the S5II's which in turn replaced the S1H which was going to be sold, but it's simply a case of repurpose the S1H back into being a stills camera, a role it has fulfilled before superbly. And will once again. Maybe an S2R or S2H next year, but for the rest of this one, probably not. S5II x2 in a static role for video + S9 run & gun + S1H stills. Done. For now...

Well the Sony A7RV gets to stay. For now at least... It was always going to be a close cal between it and the new Z6III but I think I made the right choice. Had a pretty poor first shoot experience with it the other week when it got dropped and the Tamron 28-75 was sheared off it's mount and then shooting medium raw which 'everyone' recommends turned out to be shit. All medium raw did, other than saving some storage space and make the files slightly slower to process, was remove colour & detail and caused an utter trash low light result. Don't believe everything you read on the internets... OK, 61mp uncompressed raw is overkill for about 90% of my work but there isn't another combination of body & lenses, this compact & light, with this kind of performance. DR is higher than anything I have previously used and that is a big thumbs up. Low light capability on my most recent shoot was a concern after the previous week as these higher MP cameras are not renowned for being low-light monsters, but actually, it passed muster on the basis of using DXO PureRaw which I always use anyway. I would however like a faster lens than f/2.8 for lower light stuff and though it's a brute, that new Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 is looking mighty tempting for this purpose... Please please please Sigma, make a sibling to it such as say a 45-90mm f/1.8 and I'm set for the rest of my career. No S9 yet, - that won't be here until towards the end of the month, but the Lumix set up are not any kind of concern as they just do the business.

That’s actually one of my best investments. Along with the motorhome/RV. The moho/RV saves me around €7k per annum that I am not spending on bed & board and will claw back around 35-40% of its purchase price after 10 years use. The cart will be worth fuck all after 10 years, if it even lasts that long…which I doubt, but every wedding I use it at (which is almost all of them) it’s been invaluable. Single trip from van to somewhere convenient within the venue with all my kit loaded up which otherwise would be 3-4 walking trips each end of the day. Last job of the year it’s going to be especially useful as it’s nearly 1km from the closest parking to the church with no drop off opportunity as the roads are too tiny and I can’t get close. But I can trundle my trolley 2km. Kind of…

Carnage on Shoot 01 Second Rode WG2 was DOA At least I knew about this in advance… Within the space of 10 mins, damaged my video workhorse Sigma 28-70 and totally destroyed my stills Tamron 28-75, plus A7 baseplate. Managed to soldier on with the Sigma for video but could have switched to a 20-60 but it’s going to need to go into repair ASAP. Just had to order a new Tamron though and then see if this one can be fixed as the lens came clean off the mount. Had to switch early to the 10-40 which is a bit wider than I’d have liked but hey ho, nothing like a baptism of fire. The damage was all caused by the Cotton Carrier system and first thing when I get back will be switching back to my previous twin set up of harness plus Spider Holster. The harness system means you cannot drop a camera. The Spider Holster takes the weight off your shoulders/back and on to your hips and stops the cameras swinging around as they tend to with a harness. Lessons learned 🤑 Otherwise GREAT set up.